Interesting Feeds - Danny Choo

Thursday, October 14, 2010

SIR ELTON JOHN decided to resurrect the career of LEON RUSSELL after breaking down in tears while listening to the Sixties legend's old albums.

Russell met John in 1970 when he went to see one of his early shows in Los Angeles, and he invited the British singer to be his opening act on a handful of dates in New York.

The Rocket Man's career skyrocketed while Russell decided to take a hiatus, and largely faded from the spotlight.

But John decided to reach out to Russell last year (09) with plans for a collaboration to thank the veteran star for changing his life.

Russell recalls, "He said he'd been listening to some of my records, and he's just started crying because I'd meant so much to him and hadn't never done enough for me. I said, 'Well, you've been busy.' He said, 'Not that busy. Would you like to make a record?' So that was it."

The duo has co-written and recorded an album, The Union, in which they share vocals and play their pianos together.

First there were the solo piano versions from Elton of "Never Too Old (To Hold Somebody)" and then "Gone to Shiloh" captured at recent concerts and posted on YouTube. Then we heard the first official studio version of one of the tracks, "I Should've Sent Roses" which was played on BBC radio and distributed over the internet.

After hearing these tracks I was left feeling somewhat, well, unimpressed.

I thought "Gone to Shiloh" and "I Should've Sent Roses" were rather dull. I did like "Never Too Old" and thought it had promise but did not think it was a must listen track but just ok.

Of course in between the leaking of those tracks came the official first single released to radio "If It Wasn't For Bad" and I loved it. With this track my hope for the album was restored. But I was still worried.

Now having listened to "The Union" several times on NPR's First Listen I can honestly say it is everything it has been hyped up to be. Elton and Leon Russell have created a collection of music that has something for everyone. Elton seems full of energy and Leon sounds like he never left the scene. The production from T-Bone Burnett is terrific and similar to what he did with Robert Plant and Alison Kraus on Raising Sand although here with a bit more edge to it.

Elton's vocals sound much better to my ears then anything he has done recently. Gone is the annoying habit of emphasizing the last syllable of certain words ("Pretty eye-DAH, pirate smile-AH, you'll marry a music ma-NAH!") and what sounds like yelling on some of the more up-tempo tracks. He still emotes more than he used to but to a lesser extent on this album. Ballads like "Eight Hundred Dollar Shoes" "The Best Part of the Day" and "When Love Is Dying" showcase Elton's vocals (is his voice getting deeper?) and he sounds wonderful.

Elton's more recent up-tempo tracks have left much to be desired. I was not expecting a lot from the tracks "Hey Arab" and "Monkey Suit" having been disappointed all too often in the past, especially after not being impressed by the 30 second clips posted on iTunes and Amazon. Happily these are two of the best up-tempo tracks Elton has written and recorded in a very long time. They both come off as very natural, not forced as some of his recent "rockers" have sounded.

It's amazing to me how well Leon's vocals mesh with Elton. These are two singers whom I never would have expected to team up, much less produce such a fantastic album. Leon shines on the tracks I mentioned as well as "If It Wasn't For Bad" "A Dream Come True" "Hearts Should Have Turned To Stone" and the very moving "The Hands of Angels."

And kudos to the musicians that play on the album as well. I was interested in how the album would sound with a different band and T-Bone Burnett's production and I was not disappointed. I especially love the Pedal Steel guitar on "Jimmie Rodgers Dream."

Ironically two of my favorites are "Gone to Shiloh" and "Never Too Old (To Hold Somebody). These songs work so much better with a full band and as duets with Leon. Neil Young's appearance on "Gone to Shiloh" in my opinion elevates the song from very good to a classic. He owns the second verse and very nearly turns the track into a Neil Young song. If Elton and Leon appear on the Grammys next year this is the song they should perform, hopefully with Neil Young as well.

So after all of my consternation about the new album I am now extremely happy by this union of Elton and Leon.

SIR ELTON JOHN decided to resurrect the career of LEON RUSSELL after breaking down in tears while listening to the Sixties legend's old albums.

Russell met John in 1970 when he went to see one of his early shows in Los Angeles, and he invited the British singer to be his opening act on a handful of dates in New York.

The Rocket Man's career skyrocketed while Russell decided to take a hiatus, and largely faded from the spotlight.

But John decided to reach out to Russell last year (09) with plans for a collaboration to thank the veteran star for changing his life.

Russell recalls, "He said he'd been listening to some of my records, and he's just started crying because I'd meant so much to him and hadn't never done enough for me. I said, 'Well, you've been busy.' He said, 'Not that busy. Would you like to make a record?' So that was it."

The duo has co-written and recorded an album, The Union, in which they share vocals and play their pianos together.

A seven-day channel devoted to the music of Elton John will kick off Oct. 15 to celebrate the release of Elton John and Leon Russell's new album, "The Union."

The channel, called "Elton!," will feature music from throughout Elton John's career and interviews with friends like T-Bone Burnett, who produced the new album, and longtime lyric collaborator Bernie Taupin. Guest DJs, such as Robert Downey Jr. and tennis star Andy Roddick will also play some of their favorite Elton John music. The channel will also include music by Leon Russell, plus an interview with John and Russell conducted by director Cameron Crowe.

The limited-run channel will launch on Friday, October 15 at 3:00 pm ET and will run until Friday, October 22 at 3:00 am ET on SIRIUS channel 33 and XM channel 27.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

The Union is a rare gesture in a dying business: an act of gratitude. Elton John repays a long-standing debt of inspiration to Leon Russell — particularly the rowdy merger of soul, country and gospel rapture Russell perfected as a writer, pianist and arranger on 1969 and '70 albums by Joe Cocker and Delaney and Bonnie — by putting Russell in front of a classy big band, on his first major-label album in a decade. "Your songs have all the hooks/You're seven wonders rolled into one," John sings, ever the fan, in "Eight Hundred Dollar Shoes."